Protect Orange VA!

Our signs started going up right after the January organizational meeting that drew about 100 people. The map below shows where signs have been spotted around the county, with placement extending from the northern tier, to the town or Orange, to just north of Gordonsville. Thank you to everyone displaying signage to highlight county residents' opposition to utility scale solar on agricultural land.

We know there are more signs out there! If you've got a sign and want to add its location to the map, email us at info@protectorangeva.org

Yes, that red dot in Culpeper County is correctly placed - we have a Culpeper supporter!

A look at the land that could be lost

Recent contact with a journalist from the MadRapp Recorder/Greene Journal indicated there's misinformation being spread that the land under lease to Sunfish Solar LLC and its European parent company Baywa r.e is ill suited to agriculture. In fact, the project includes Prime Farmland and Farmland of Statewide Importance: approximately 25 and 43 percent, respectively. One of the four leasehold parcels along route 522 is visibly under cultivation (but difficult to get a photo of). Others are in hay production or used for grazing. Below are a few photos taken June 16 of another leasehold parcel along Old Office Road with corn growing and hay recently baled. There's also a field with rye in cultivation.

Citizens for Sunfish Solar - BayWa's local lobbying effort

The buffer to screen the proposed project along the section of Old Office Road shown above will rely on existing shrubs and trees - there will be no additional buffer along the project line from Harmony Forest Lane to Mountain Run. The solar plant in this area will be visible to residents and vehicular traffic.

In addition to the potential loss of agricultural land, this project as planned is poorly sited as it is adjacent to the Mountain Run floodplain and on property with extensive wetlands. 60 stormwater retention basins are currently planned for mitigation of the panel runoff. When a site has this "complexity of terrain" [developer BayWa's wording] and requires this much water management, it is a bad site. Link to article about lawsuit against Baywa for stormwater issues on adjoining property

Above, another view from Old Office Road of the area that has been hayed and the limited buffer that would remain if this project is approved.

Below, the current site plan (4/26/24) with approximate location of photos above marked by star. According to the developer's project Narrative dated April 2024 (the 4th narrative adjustment) the project comprises 932 acres; 575 acres will be impacted by project construction and 434 acres will be covered by approximately 180,000 solar modules.

Just say no to Citizens for Sunfish Solar

In the lead up to the Planning Commission vote on June 20, the developer of the Sunfish Solar project is promoting their plan to place 400+ acres of agricultural land under thousands of solar panels and add a substation and switchyard in a rural neighborhood along True Blue and Old Office roads in northern Orange County. If this project is approved, neighbors' property values and a thriving agritourism event venue adjacent to the proposed project area will take a hit.

Numerous signs for "Citizens for Sunfish Solar" have gone up around the county in recent days. Citizens for Sunfish Solar was created as a web tool for the solar developer, who is intent on sharing information about the project in hopes of driving county support. Their efforts include placing signage in places where it should NOT be placed, such as schools. The photo below is of Lightfoot Elementary School, where signage was placed at the school's exit and entry points (same for Unionville Elementary School). The signs have appeared all over the county, including Barboursville (second photo) .

The Planning Commission has reviewed the project and will be voting on Sunfish Solar on Thursday, June 20, 6:00 pm. (Planning Commission contacts are here if you would like to contact your district commissioner.)

The voices of Orange County residents need to be heard! County residents are invited to come to the Planning Commission meeting on the 20th and express their views during the public comment. Meeting location: PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING MEETING ROOM, 11282 GOVERNMENT CENTER DRIVE, ORANGE.